Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 144:15
Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.
15. Happy is the people of Jehovah’s choice, to whom He shews such manifest tokens of His favour in temporal prosperity; and yet more truly happy are they in the spiritual blessing of having Jehovah for their God. He is the source and sum of all true happiness, temporal and eternal.
The second line is from Psa 33:12, with the substitution of the later form of the relative pronoun sh for asher. See note on p. 739.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Happy is that people that is in such a case – In such a condition; or, where these things prevail.
Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord – Whose God is Yahweh; who worship and serve Him as their God. The worship of Yahweh – the religion of Yahweh – is adapted to make a people happy; peaceful; quiet; blessed. Prosperity and peace, such as are referred to in the previous verses, are, and must be, the result of pure religion. Peace, order, abundance, attend it everywhere, and the best security for a nations prosperity is the worship of God; that which is most certain to make a nation happy and blessed, is to acknowledge God and to keep his laws.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 144:15
Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.
A happy people
I. Examine what is comprehended in the relation referred to. This may refer–
1. To God as the object of religious worship.
2. To Him as the author of every blessing.
3. To the covenant relation in which He condescends to stand to His people. This includes–
(1)Divine acceptance.
(2) Delightful intercourse.
(3) Pleasing satisfaction.
II. Illustrate and confirm the declaration itself. Such persons are happy–
1. Because all the Divine perfections are engaged in their behalf.
(1) Mercy to pardon their sins, and deliver them from guilt and misery.
(2) Wisdom to remove their ignorance, and guide them through the intricate mazes of this world.
(3) Power to assist their weakness, and be their guard and defence.
(4) Omnipresence to survey them in every possible condition.
(5) Holiness to conquer all their depravity.
(6) Riches to chase away their poverty.
(7) Plenty to supply all their wants. Faithfulness to perform all that has been promised.
2. Because in Him they are assured of finding a refuge in every time of need.
3. Because they are warranted to expect every needful supply.
4. Because in Him they have a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
5. Because to them all the promises of the Gospel are yea and amen in Christ Jesus.
6. Because they have a sure prospect of being with Him for ever.
Learn–
1. How mistaken the men of the world are with respect to the people of God.
2. How insignificant is the worldlings portion.
3. How dangerous is the condition of those who have not the Lord for their portion. (T. Lewis.)
National religion
There is in this psalm the outline-sketch of an ideal people. The tuneful seer pictures a nation whose every citizen is animated by the love of God, a community in which each separate soul is governed and guided by the wisdom which is from above. Redeemed by Divine grace, every man lives to the full the manifold life that is in him. There is no discord between a mans duties and his desires, no disproportion and no inequity between the functions of the flesh and those of the mind and spirit. Every man achieves and sustains a large and harmonious life. Recognizing the fatherhood of God, every man realizes and ministers to the brotherhood of man. Freedom is unrestrained by law because conditioned by love. Selfishness is banished under the gracious constraint of truth and charity. Righteousness is wedded to peace. The sunshine of plenty is unsullied by shadows of want. Progress leaves in its train no accumulation of poverty. Law is no longer an imposed coercion but an indwelling and spontaneous rule. Culture is sweetened by piety. Power yields to the loving dominance of gentleness. Religion is crowned with humanity. And upon this happy nation bountiful Nature, as the minister of God, showers the blessings of abundance and content. This splendid ideal, lifted up by Hebrew bard and preacher, given them by inspiration of God, naturally found its clearest expression, its most attractive unfolding, in Gods Messiah. It was the declared purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ to inaugurate upon earth this kingdom of heaven. With suggestive repetition He spoke of this kingdom, this new society or body politic. He ever looked beyond, while He looked redemptively at, the individuals who gathered around Him. He saw as from a mountain-top the distant beauty of a new heaven and a new earth, and He saw that the path to it lay through the slow achievement of individual conversion. But the end was clear to Him, and certain. The kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. And that is our dream because it is Christs.
I. Here, then, we emerge into the broader outlooks and ideals of a truly national movement in religion. It is a movement to win England for Christ through the regeneration of every Englishman by the Spirit. We may get, we ought to toil for, more Christian laws, fairer conditions and better prospects for the people. We may, through the social elevation of men, and through the cleansing of their environment, help to advance them to a higher stage of life. By the organization and impact of Christian opinion we may prevent national iniquity and promote public righteousness. All these instruments of battle and victory are within the Christian armoury. But only through new men can new nations emerge, and only through the patient evangelization of our people can our country become a truly Christian land.
II. Let me now remind you that we are moved to this high effort by reverence for Christ and loving passion for men. The first of these motives has already been emphasized. It springs from the belief that everything was made for Christ as well as by Him; that the nations are His inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth His possession. It proceeds upon a broad conception of Christs work as the redemption to God of all lifes departments and faculties, of all earths dominions and resources. It is fired by the determination to lay at Christs feet everything the world counts glorious, and to place on His head the many crowns. Nothing smaller can satisfy our gratitude or reverence. We cannot rest content till the world for which He died acclaims Him Saviour and King. And we are stirred to the same endeavour by our compassion for men, and by our belief that the Gospel holds the secret of all wealth and joy. It is new life men need, the new life of a pardoned and accepted and endowed soul. And because we possess the secret of it in the Gospel we cannot rest. Its possession is an impulse, its experience a contagion. Its incoming peace creates an outgoing sympathy. We can only keep it by giving it; the heart would break did the mouth not speak. Yes, the enthusiasm of humanity is the essential effect of Christ in the heart.
III. It is in no sense derogatory to the sublime spirituality of our theme to say that by love of country, not less than by promptings of piety, are we impelled to this broad mission. Our desire to see England, the land of our birth and love, foremost among the nations in the cause of Christ and humanity, is a distinct and legitimate factor in our zeal. Patriotism is a noble word, and it stands for a grand quality. The England whose glory shines through many clouds, whose fair fame has won affection and scattered blessing the wide world over, is the England of the martyrs, the confessors, those speakers for God who made room for man, whose blood has been the seed of religion and liberty. It is the England of the missionary, the explorer, the emancipator, the philanthropist; the land of the open Book and the free charter, of the pious home and the sacred sanctuary, of the day of rest and the progressive faith; the land where heroes and saints have wrought to make life possible and to stir the grand enthusiasms of a broad humanity. That is our England. Round her our affections cling. For her our prayers arise. In her our faith and hope find anchorage. Love of such an England is love of all mankind through her. The patriotism which is loyal to such a land is the initial form of an enthusiasm for humanity. Hers is the opportunity, and hers the obligation, to lead the world to the knowledge of Christ; to teach mankind how to blend culture with piety, intelligence with faith, spiritual aspiration with practical service, and freedom of action with gracious constraint of obedience. Yes, that, and that supremely, is Englands mission.
IV. Is it possible our dream may be realized? I for one dare believe no less. But as to its probability, that depends. Others before us were called to do Gods work, and they perished miserably because of failure. That fate may be ours. Should we grow into a nation of idlers, sensualists, atheists, our candlestick will surely be removed out of its place. It depends upon Christian men and Churches whether our sun is to sink in storm. If we would have England saved for her noble destiny, we must be more true in faith and practice. To that noble undertaking let me once more call you. Then shall the past of our country pale before its future. Our song shall be without discord, our glory shall be as the glory of the Lord, and in the gathering of the nations around the throne of the King our fatherland shall be foremost in service and reward. (C. A. Berry, D. D.)
The happiness of those whose God is the Lord
As a child in any of the families in our midst can only be happy by being docile and obedient and trustful to the wise and benevolent guidance of a godly father, or to the tender leading of a gentle and saintly mother, so, we all acknowledge at least, can we experience the highest good of the soul only by being reverent and truthful towards Him who is the Parent of us all–in whom we live and move and have our being. To be thus is to have Jehovah for our God; and only in this way shall we be happy. Now, if this is true, as unquestionably it is, of individuals, it follows that it must also be so of large collections of individuals or of nations; and this is the idea which the psalmist had principally in his mind when the words of the text were uttered. The true happiness–may I not go farther, and say the true prosperity?–of a nation will rise or fall, advance or recede, just as the love of God and the practice of justice and goodness and generosity and forbearance are or are not prevalent among the people, from the sovereign and the advisers of the crown downwards to the very humblest in the land. The true recognition of God or a conscientious regard for goodness and straightforward dealing, existing to any extent in a vast community, is a solid ground of hope in the midst of national distress or under the cloud of national calamity. If ten righteous men had been found in Sodom that city would have been saved from the destroying fire. Not only a ground of hope, therefore, but also a token of safety–of returning prosperity, of reappearing happiness. It was so as to the experience of Gods ancient people, commemorated in the psalm from which our text is taken. The wrath of God had kindled against the apostate race; the proud tyrant of Babylon had been permitted to carry them away on account of their sins; but by and by this affliction became a purifying process. The love of God returned to their hearts, and the darkness began to brighten; and here there is anticipated in lofty strains a renewed golden age of power and plenty, of prosperity and happiness. The youth of the land are to be marked by native strength and vigour and freedom, whilst the maidens in their polished gracefulness and quiet beauty are to resemble the exquisitely sculptured forms which adorn the corners of some magnificent hall or chamber of a palace. Plenty both in the produce of the field and in flocks and herds is to be granted by a kindly-disposed Heaven; the very streets of their towns and villages are to re-echo to nothing but sounds of joy and thankfulness. Happiness is to prevail, but that simply because goodness is to be the national characteristic. Not one of us can fail to see most clearly his duty in this connection. We love our country, and we desire to see it great and glorious and free and happy; but let us recollect that the only way in which this result can be obtained is by the individual members of the community devoting themselves to the honest service of goodness–in their homes, at their business, in the company into which they go, at their everyday work, always and everywhere. Thus only shall we be happy individually, and also as a people. (W. M. Arthur, M. A.)
.
Psa 145:1-21
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. Happy is that people] “O how happy are the people!” Such were his people; and they had not only all this secular happiness, but they had Jehovah for their God; and in him had a ceaseless fountain of strength, protection, earthly blessings, and eternal mercies! A people in such a case to rebel, must have the curse of God and man.
ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH PSALM
This Psalm is divided into three parts: –
I. A thanksgiving, Ps 144:1-5.
II. A petition, Ps 144:5-11.
III. A discussion on happiness, and in what it consists, Ps 144:12-15.
I. The prophet gives thanks, and praises God.
1. “Blessed be the Lord:” c. Who has taught me in a general way the art of war, in a particular way the use of the sling giving me skill, c.
2. “He is my strength,” &c. The strength I have is from him.
3. “My goodness,” &c. Benignity or mercy.
4. “My fortress,” &c. To him I fly as to a stronghold.
5. “And my Deliverer.” Therefore will I trust in him.
From the consideration of so many benefits, the psalmist exclaims, “Lord what is man,” &c.
To which question he replies, –
1. “Man is like to vanity.” If God be not his fulness and strength.
2. “His days,” &c. God is always the same but man changes every moment.
II. He prays for God’s assistance: “Bow thy heavens,” c. “Cast forth lightning,” &c. If men will not acknowledge thy mercy, let them see thy judgments. This first part of his petition against his enemies being ended, he prays, –
1. “Rid me, and deliver me:” &c. From dangers of men.
2. “From the hand of strange children:” &c. Moabites, Philistines, &c.
Upon whom he sets these two characters.
1. “Whose mouth speaketh vanity:” &c. Lies, insincere words.
2. “At their right hand:” &c. They use their power to oppress and deceive.
Then the psalmist exclaims, as in a short hymn –
1. “I will sing a new song,” &c. And this I will do because “thou hast given victory,” &c. “Thou hast delivered David,” &c., from Saul, Absalom, &c.
2. And then he repeats, and concludes his petition as before: “Rid me,” &c.
III. His petition being ended, he discourses on the nature of happiness, which is of two kinds, temporal and spiritual. The addition of temporal blessings is pleasant, and promised to the obedient: but godliness is the only safety in this, and especially in the life to come: “For godliness,” &c. God created temporal goods not merely for the wicked they are often the rewards of piety. The psalmist therefore prays, –
1. “That our sons,” c. They are the pillars of a house let them be flourishing.
2. “That our daughters,” c. Stones that join the building, beautiful as well as useful.
3. “That our garners may be full,” &c. That we may have abundance.
4. “That our sheep,” &c. Our flocks’ increase.
5. “That our oxen,” &c. May be healthy and strong.
6. “That there be no breaking,” &c. No plundering among us.
7. “That there be no complaining,” &c. No want of bread, or any cause of tumult. David prays that, during his reign, the people may be happy, and enjoy the fruits of peace.
Then he concludes the Psalm with this acclamation: –
1. “Happy is that people,” &c. Those he has described.
2. “Yea, happy,” &c. That have the true God for their God who know God to be their Father, and that he takes care of them, providing for their temporal necessities, and supplying all their spiritual wants. Others understand these words, not as prayers, but as a description of the state David and his people were then in. See the notes.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This is a correction of the last sentence. This is a very desirable estate; but the true and chief happiness of our Israel doth not consist in these things, which are common to others with us, but in this peculiar privilege, that the true and blessed God is our God by covenant and special relation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Happy [is that] people that is in such a case,…. Whose families are in good order and behave well; who enjoy plenty of all good things; whose flocks and herds increase, and who live in peace and prosperity; these are temporal blessings highly valuable, and for which those who have them should be thankful, as being happy in comparison of others that are destitute of them, De 28:3; and especially who besides these are blessed with spiritual blessings, signified by them, and of which these were typical;
[yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the Lord; whose God the Lord is, not only by creation, and as he is a common benefactor and preserver, but as their God in covenant, their covenant God and Father in Christ; whom he has loved, chosen, redeemed, adopted, justified, pardoned, regenerated, and sanctified; all which appears to them in effectual calling, is manifested by the application of covenant grace to them, and is witnessed to their spirits by the spirit of God, and which their faith claims an interest in: and these are happy, thrice happy persons; for all that God has are theirs; all his perfections are on their side and for their good; he is their portion, shield, reward, and their all in all; his covenant, its blessings and promises, are all theirs; they have enough, having all things, and can want no good thing; nor need they fear any enemy; the Lord takes care of them, sets a guard about them, resents all injuries done them, prevents the designs of their enemies, makes all things work together for their good, provides all things necessary for them for time and eternity, and will be their God and guide even unto death; covenant interest always continues, and therefore such must be ever happy.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. Happy the people, etc. He thus concludes that the divine favor had been sufficiently shown and manifested to his people. Should any object that it breathed altogether a gross and worldly spirit to estimate man’s happiness by benefits of a transitory description, I would say in reply that we must read the two things in connection, that those are happy who recognize the favor of God in the abundance they enjoy, and have such a sense of it from these transitory blessings as leads them through a persuasion of his fatherly love to aspire after the true inheritance. There is no impropriety in calling those happy whom God blesses in this world, provided they do not show themselves blinded in the improvement and use which they make of their mercies, or foolishly and supinely overlook the author of them. The kind providence of God in not suffering us to want any of the means of life is surely a striking illustration of his wonderful love. What more desirable than to be the objects of God’s care, especially if we have sufficient understanding to conclude from the liberality with which he supports us he is our Father? For everything is to be viewed with a reference to this point. Better it were at once to perish for want than have a mere brute satisfaction, and forget the main thing of all, that they and they only are happy whom God has chosen for his people. We are to observe this, that while God in giving us meat and drink admits us to the enjoyment of a certain measure of happiness, it does not follow that those believers are miserable who struggle through life in want and poverty, for this want, whatever it be, God can counterbalance by better consolations.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) Happy.It is only a narrow and one-sided religion that can see anything out of place in this beatitude of plenty and peace. If we could rejoice with the psalms, fully and without misgiving, in the temporal blessings bestowed by Heaven, we should the more readily and sincerely enter into the depths of their spiritual experience. And the secret of this lies in the full comprehension and contemplation of the beautiful and pleasant as the gift of God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Happy is that people A climax is here given. “Happy” is the people that has such material prosperity, but happier still is the people among whom the true God is known. Every good gift is indeed from him, and they with whom he dwells have the sure fountain of good. Also, tobe the chosen people of the Lord was the crown of the blessings of Israel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 740
THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Psa 144:15. Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.
TO inquiries after happiness, one answer only can be given. Every thing in the whole creation is forced to confess, It is not in me, It is not in me. It can be found in God alone. The Psalmists choice was the only one that could be made consistently with true wisdom: There be many that say, Who will shew us any good! Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us [Note: Psa 4:6.]. The same is the judgment which he gives us in the passage before us. We may, indeed, understand the text rather as expressive of the union between piety towards God, and the temporal blessings consequent upon it: for it is certain that, under that dispensation, God did confer temporal benefits on those who served him with fidelity: but, if understood as a corrective of the foregoing statement, it will more fully express the general sentiment of Scripture. The Psalmist, after describing a state of great national prosperity, says, Blessed is that people that is in such a case: and then, either in a way of confirmation, or of restriction, he adds, Yea, blessed is that people whose God is the Lord.
Were we disposed to deny the blessedness attendant on earthly prosperity, we should feel a jealousy over ourselves, in taking the two clauses of our text in a contrasted view: but, as it is our intention to give full weight to the former affirmation, and as the latter, if taken in somewhat of a contrasted view, contains a truth not confined to that dispensation, but common to every age and place, I shall take occasion, from the text, to shew,
I.
The comfort of earthly prosperity
[Too sanguine may be our expectations from earthly things, no doubt: but, on the other hand, it is possible to speak of earthly things in terms more contemptuous than either the word of God, or the experience of his people will, justify. It is not uncommon for persons professing the Gospel, or even preaching it, to represent earthly things as altogether worthless. But who is there that finds them so? Who is there that does not experience pain from the want, and satisfaction from the supply, of them? Nor is this feeling at all unbecoming a real Christian: for Christians are men; and, consequently, susceptible of pain or pleasure from the want or the enjoyment of the things that are needful for the body. Let any one be honest, and he will confess that he is not so independent of earthly things as to feel no comfort from the possession of them, and no grief at the loss. As for those who affect voluntary poverty and privations, they are no more really mortified to the world than others: they prefer the gratification of their spiritual lusts to merely corporeal indulgences: and whatever they take out of the scale of earthly pleasure, they put, in full proportion, into the opposite scale of pride and self-complacency. They entertain a notion that the mortification of their bodies is meritorious, and that it will raise them in the estimation of God and man; and, under this impression, they pour contempt on earthly comforts. But they only exchange one lust for another that is equally hateful in the sight of God. Their superstition contradicts the testimony of God himself, who, both under the Old Testament and the New, promises earthly things under the notion of blessings. The whole Mosaic law was enforced with promises of temporal prosperity. Was not that an acknowledgment that temporal prosperity contributed to our comfort? Even under the New Testament dispensation, we are told that godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come [Note: 1Ti 4:8.]: and, that God hath given us all things richly to enjoy [Note: 1Ti 6:18.]: which shews, that enjoyment is connected with the possession of them.
These observations, however, are confined to that mediocrity of condition to which Agur refers, when he says, Give me neither poverty nor riches, but food convenient for me [Note: Pro 30:8.]. For opulence does not of itself increase our comfort: it increases rather our temptations and our cares: for what has a man of extensive property, more than the mere enjoyment of beholding it with his eyes? In proportion as his goods increase, they are increased that eat them [Note: Ecc 5:11.]. A mans own personal comfort is confined within very narrow bounds: food and raiment constitute the catalogue of his wants [Note: 1Ti 6:8.]; and whatever is beyond this, brings with it more the appearance, than the reality, of comfort. The peaceful and regular enjoyment of a moderate competency, however, is doubtless a rich blessing: and, with David, we may justly say, Happy are the people that are in such a case.
Yet, viewing the latter clause of our text as restricting the former, we must particularly observe, that earthly things are no blessings, except as they are subordinated to God: for the very instant they are put in the place of God, they may be apparent blessings; but in reality they are curses; as every thing must be which estranges our hearts from God. As received from him, and employed for him, they are good: but, when they usurp his throne, and become a god unto us, they are as contemptible as the very dirt under our feet.]
That we may see earthly prosperity in its true light, it will be proper to view it in contrast with spiritual blessings: for which end I will proceed to mark,
II.
The superior comfort of true piety
Piety consists in this, the haying the Lord for our God. The broad line of distinction between the righteous and the wicked is, that, whilst the wicked have their affections supremely placed on some object of time or sense, the righteous have their hearts entirely fixed on God, as reconciled to them in the Son of his love. Now these are far happier than any worldly man: for they have,
1.
A more suitable portion
[What can the world do for the soul of any man? He is oppressed with a sense of sin: What is there in the world that can remove the load from his mind? He wants the pardon of his sin, and peace with God: What can the world do to obtain these blessings for him? He desires strength to resist temptation: Whither upon earth can he go, with a hope of acquiring it? He would gladly have death disarmed of its sting: but nothing in this world can render him that invaluable service. In a word, he would secure a happy eternity: but, ah! what it there upon earth that can confer on him so great a benefit? But if he have the Lord Jehovah for his God, if he have sought Him, obtained His favour, and given up himself to Him, all is well: he has nothing to fear; nothing to desire. In having God for his portion, he has secured to him the very things which he pants after; he has pardon, and peace, and holiness, and glory.]
2.
A more satisfying portion
[Suppose a man to possess the whole world, there will still be in his bosom an aching void, a secret something unpossessed. But the man who can look up to the Lord Jesus Christ, and say, This is my Friend, and my Beloved, My Beloved is mine, and I am his, can never wish for any thing beyond. Our blessed Lord has said, He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whoso drinketh of the water that I shall give, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life [Note: Joh 4:13-14.]. Not only has earth nothing that can add to him, but not even heaven itself contains any thing that can augment his bliss. He can adopt the words of David and say, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee [Note: Psa 73:25.]. I mean not to say that there is an indifference to earthly comforts produced upon his mind: but there is a contentment; insomuch that he is fully instructed and prepared, either to be full or to be hungry, either to abound or to suffer need [Note: Php 4:11-12.].]
3.
He has a more lasting portion
[Whatever a man possess in this world, he must soon be stripped of it all, and go as naked out of the world as he came into it. But at death, the godly man comes into the full possession of his inheritance. All that he enjoyed in this life was only like the portion of a minor, who has just a sufficiency allotted to him for his education in the world; but, when he goes hence, he comes of age, and takes possession of all the wealth provided for him by the Father. Millions of ages will not lessen his portion, or diminish his enjoyment of it.
Say, then, Is not he happy? Yes; we may say of him, as Moses does, Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excellency [Note: Deu 33:29.]!]
This subject affords me a fit occasion to impress upon your minds,
1.
The wisdom of industrious habits
[Think not that this is a suggestion unworthy of a minister of the Gospel. St. Paul inculcates strongly and frequently this lesson: Be not slothful in business [Note: Rom 12:11.]: If any man will not work, neither shall he eat [Note: 2Th 3:10-12.]: Let him that stole, steal no more; but rather let him labour with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth [Note: Eph 4:28.]. God has, in relation to the greater part of the world, appointed a connexion between industry and the possession of earthly comforts. He has told us, and we daily see the truth of it, that the diligent hand maketh rich; and that idleness will clothe a man with rags. I would, therefore, say to all, Be diligent in your respective callings; and account it not beneath you to exert yourselves to the uttermost in every work that is assigned you, whether it be intellectual, for the improvement of your minds, or corporeal, for the discharge of any inferior duties. I am not prepared to go the full length of a profound writer [Note: Paley.], and say, that, in the pursuit of happiness, occupation is all: but certainly a constant and diligent prosecution of our respective duties contributes essentially, in the very act, to the happiness of our minds, and ultimately, in its consequences, to the comfort of our lives. Nor will it in the least interfere with the exercises of true piety: for when St. Paul says, Be not slothful in business, he adds at the same time, Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord [Note: See l.].]
2.
The wisdom of seeking after God
[Diligence in the prosecution of earthly good may be defeated by a thousand unforeseen occurrences: but who ever failed in seeking after God? Moreover, many who have possessed the good things of this life, have afterwards, by untoward circumstances, been bereaved of them: but who, or what, can rob you of your God; who, if you really give yourselves up to him, has said, not only that he will never depart from you, and that he will put his fear in your hearts, that you shall not depart from him [Note: Jer 32:40.]? Besides, in the full possession of earthly things you may have no comfort in them, by reason of pain of body or distress of mind: but in those seasons God will be nearer to you, and will impart his consolations to you more abundantly, in proportion as you need his gracious help [Note: 2Co 1:5.]. I say, then, Seek after God: seek him as a reconciled God in Christ Jesus: seek him, till he has revealed himself fully to your souls, and enabled you to say, O God, thou art my God [Note: Psa 63:1.]. Then, without fear of contradiction, I will pronounce you happy; and if, in reference to earthly comforts, I must qualify my language, when I say, happy are the people which are in such a case, I will, in the broadest and most unqualified terms, say, in reference to you, Happy is the people whose God is the Lord.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Moses hath a verse similar to this, Deu 33:29 . Who so blessed, who so well taken care of, who so highly favored, as the Israel of God? Reader! all these blessings were types of gospel mercies, and in Jesus we see them realized. Well may every child of God cry out, Happy art thou, O believer, that art in such a case; yea, happy is that soul whose God is the Lord! Reader! is this your portion? Can you call God your Father, Jesus your Redeemer, God the Spirit your Teacher, sanctifier, and the glorifier of Jesus? Sweet testimony, when these things live in the heart, and Christ is formed there the hope of glory!
REFLECTIONS
My soul! dost thou long to war a good warfare? Look up then to the Captain of thy salvation, and behold how Jehovah armed him for the battle; and do thou go forth in his strength, making mention of his righteousness, even his only. He came forth at the call of his Father, full of zeal, when his own arm brought salvation unto him, and his righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet, of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. And while thou art thus looking up to Jesus, he is looking upon thee, and will teach thy hands to war, and thy fingers to fight. He will be to thee all thou canst need, therefore follow him and behold the salvation of God. And oh! my soul, cease not to contemplate his love. And whilst thou goest on in the wilderness road, fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold of eternal life; contemplate, as thou goest, the infinite love and grace, and condescension of Jesus; and while thou cried out as the Psalmist, Lord! what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him; con template the Man in those words, whose name is the Branch, whose name is indeed Wonderful. Yes! precious Jesus! all thoughts, all subjects, all contemplations, must be lost and swallowed up in thee, as all the rivers of the earth are in the ocean. Thou art a sea of wonders, a world of wonders, in thy person, offices, characters, relations. I will sing indeed a new song-, and thou shalt be the whole sum and substance of it: for in thee, and by thee, and from thee, all blessings flow. Our sons and our daughters shall grow up in thy grace, and all our upper and nether springs shall be marked with Jesus. Hail! thou glorious Lord of all! Mine own friend, and my Father’s friend will I forget not: the fathers to the children shall make known thy praise.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 144:15 Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.
Ver. 15. Happy is that people ] That hath such a confluence of outward comforts. In Hezekiah’s days only it was so, say the Rabbis, peace, plenty, and posterity. The Syriac rendereth it questionwise: Is not the people happy that is in such a case? No, not except they have God to boot; as, if they have, they are happy howsoever, Deu 33:29 : ut vita carnis anima est, ita beatitudo hominis Deus, saith Austin.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Happy. See App-63. in such a case: i.e. holding the false view that happiness consists in outward prosperity. Compare Psa 4:6, Psa 4:7, and Psa 146:3 and Psa 146:5.
Yea. Supply the Ellipsis (App-6), not as in Authorized Version and Revised Version, but [Yea, rather], or [Nay]. The last member (Yea, happy is that People, whose God
is the Lord.) being David’s own words; denying the vain and false words of the aliens (Psa 144:8 and Psa 144:12-15), and declaring the truth as to that in which real happiness consists. See note on Psa 4:6, Psa 4:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
happy: Psa 33:12, Psa 65:4, Psa 89:15, Psa 146:5, Deu 33:29, Eph 1:3
Reciprocal: Gen 9:26 – Blessed Num 22:12 – for they Psa 1:1 – Blessed Jer 31:1 – will Jer 32:38 – General Zec 13:9 – It is my people
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 144:15. Happy is that people that is in such a case The fathers, with many others, have supposed these wishes for sons, daughters, corn, sheep, oxen, &c., to be uttered by the strange children, the aliens and idolaters, mentioned Psa 144:11, but there is no reason for such a supposition. The good things of this world were promised to Israel of old, on condition of their obedience, and were bestowed on them while they observed Gods laws. And national piety and virtue are generally followed by national prosperity; for nations, as such, in their national capacity, are only capable of rewards and punishments in this life. And secular prosperity may fall, and sometimes does fall, to the lot of the righteous, who are distinguished from the wicked by the use which they make of temporal blessings, when given, and by their meek resignation of them, when taken away. Whatever be the will of God concerning our having or wanting these outward comforts, we know that we have, as the faithful servants of God have had in every age before us, greater and more precious promises, a better and an enduring substance, pleasures that fade not, and riches that fly not away, reserved for us in a heavenly country, and a city that hath foundations. Horne. Hence the psalmist corrects the former clause of the verse by adding, Happy is that people whose God is the Lord As if he had said, It is desirable to have temporal prosperity, but the true and chief happiness of Gods people doth not consist therein, nor in any thing common to them with the people of the world, but in this peculiar privilege, that the living, true, and blessed God is their God by covenant and special relation, and that they enjoy his favour, love, and grace, according to the tenor of the covenant, though they may not have abundance of this worlds goods, but may be in a state of great poverty, reproach, and affliction.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
144:15 Happy [is that] people, that is
(n) in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.
(n) And if God does not give to all his children all these blessings, yet he replaces them with better things.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
David began this royal psalm by blessing Yahweh and concluded it by ascribing blessedness on the people of Yahweh.
People who make the Lord their hope of deliverance will enjoy His blessing. They will experience His supernatural salvation and will enjoy the benefits of His saving grace.
"We are to observe this, that while God in giving us meat and drink admits us to the enjoyment of a certain measure of happiness, it does not follow that those believers are miserable who struggle through life in want and poverty, for this want, whatever it be, God can counterbalance by better consolations." [Note: Calvin, 3:271.]